Giant Eagle sells GetGo convenience stores to Canadian company

As announced on Monday, Giant Eagle is selling its GetGo convenience stores to a Canadian company that also wants to buy the 7-Eleven chain of stores.

Suburban Montreal-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. is buying the 270 GetGo grocery and gas stations for a price that was not disclosed. In a news release, Giant Eagle said it is selling the stores so it can focus on its grocery and pharmacy stores, and the sale “will strengthen Giant Eagle and allow us to better prioritize investments and resources.”

Bill Artman, CEO of Giant Eagle, stated: “We are excited about the potential this transaction brings to both Giant Eagle and GetGo. This increases our focus on our core supermarket and pharmacy businesses, strengthens Giant Eagle and allows us to make strategic investments in our people, stores and value proposition…”

He also described Alimentation Couche-Tard as “the perfect partner”.

The Canadian company – often referred to as “Couche-Tard” – operates in 31 countries and has more than 16,000 stores. Its brands include Circle K. It was also reported on Monday that Couche-Tard has made a takeover offer to the Japanese group that owns 7-Eleven. If the offer is successful, it would take over the 85,000 7-Eleven stores in North America and Asia.

Couche-Tard will continue to operate the myPerks loyalty program after the company is acquired, which gives Giant Eagle customers discounts on gas at GetGo locations based on how much they spend on groceries and other goods.

“We have great respect for GetGo’s management and employees, as well as its outstanding food and loyalty programs,” said Brian Hannasch, president and CEO of Couche-Tard. In a statement, he added, “We look forward to growing together as we learn from and continue to build on GetGo’s innovative approaches to serving its local customers and communities.”

The sale is expected to close in 2025, subject to regulatory approval. There are several GetGo stores in the region and across the state, and there are also stores in Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.